No Spaces or Full Stops!

"...So don't you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?" Luke 18:7b

There is so much written on prayer that I hesitate to write yet another reflection on the topic again today. But with all the books, messages, podcasts, home décor signs, songs and scriptures calling us to pray why do we devote so little time on our knees?

Do we pray because God commands us to, or is it from an inner compelling that forces us before His throne of grace? Do we casually lift requests like grocery lists letting God know what we and others need? Do we mention names like a classroom roll call identifying those with both physical and spiritual concerns? Is there any passion at all in our prayers? 

Current prayer requests shared with me seem not only innumerable, but humanly impossible. I look over the emails and messages I've received and each one requires a touch from God. Many are time sensitive. Health concerns. Will the dad be well enough to attend his son's wedding? Will he be here? Marriages dissolving. The wife weary and the husband still battling temptations after years of addiction. Daily physical provisions. Will she be able to pay the bills this month? Living accommodations uncertain and stressful. How long will we have to carry two mortgages? Insecurities overwhelming. What will it take for her to rest in the knowledge of Your unfailing love? Eyes that need to be opened. When will he see what he's doing? Hearts that need to turn to the Lord. How long Lord until she responds to You? 

Just a prayer sampler. My journal pages are full. My heart is heavy. Tired moms. Frustrated fathers. Exhausting children. Wearisome relatives. And we haven't even stepped beyond the front door. Add in global news, world leaders, natural disasters and we can feel buried under the burden of difficulties leading to hopelessness, our prayers appearing futile. And it's unending. Even as I've been writing this a friend, feeling helpless as her daughter in another country sits at Emergency waiting to see a doctor because of unrelenting pain, sent me a prayer S.O.S.

But, what if our prayers really were an S.O.S? Did you know that this Morse code signal was never meant to be expressed as three individual letters? It was a continuous string of three dots, three dashes, three dots with no spaces or full stops. Maybe that's one of the vital problems with our prayer life. We have far too many spaces and full stops. The urgency that sent out the distress call of an S.O.S. doesn't fill our prayers. We become casualties of war not because we aren't wielding the right weapon, but there is no earnestness in our petitions and we give up too soon.

Are our prayers mediocre? We say we want to see God move, but a sentence or two doesn't indicate much desire. Is there an imbalance between the miracles I long to see and the cries to God that proceed them? God won't put off those who persevere. May the weight of the need keep us waiting on our knees crying out to Him, filling the Lord's presence with continuous cries of faith day and night. No spaces or full stops!

God's Seating Plan

"Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, 'Friend, we have a better place for you!' Then you will be honoured in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 14:10-11

After scanning the seating arrangement for our names, my husband came to me while I visited with other guests at the wedding reception. It had been such a beautiful, God-centered ceremony and it was delightful now to mingle with friends and share in the joy of this special day. The young man who just committed covenant love to his sweet bride was our son's best childhood buddy. He was extended family to us, although no actual biological relation. Joining the conversation now, my husband mentioned that he couldn't find our names on the guest list. No worries. I assumed he just glanced over the chart too quickly. 

Reading the names around the guest tables I soon discovered he was right. Our names weren't there. Seeing the mother of the groom, my dearest friend passing by, I recall reaching out and saying, "We can't find our names on the seating chart." She replied, with a twinkle in her eye, "They are there. Go look again."

Something in her manner and the tone of her voice suggested there was something special about where we were seated. Returning to the chart, I now glanced at the only table I hadn't really scrutinized. It was the family table. As I looked down the list of names my breath caught in my throat. There we were. Our names plain as day. No mistake. Seated with the groom's family at the very front.

I will never forget that moment or the feelings that filled my heart. Chosen. Cherished. Included. It was such an unexpected gesture of love that it still overwhelms me to this day. Although not blood relatives, we had been adopted in as part of their family and treated as part of their tribe. The feeling of acceptance that flooded over me was undeniable. We were invited to a table of love and undeserved grace. It remains one of the most precious gifts I have ever received.

Jesus, teaching on humility, shares a similar story. It's true that placement often indicates an order of prestige. However, those who self-promote can often find themselves in danger of facing shame. Pride can make us strive for position, but God calls us to consider others before ourselves and wait for Him to exalt us. God is not impressed by status. Christ exemplified true humility. It has been said, "Go as low as e're you will, the Highest has been lower still." 

God doesn't value a list of endorsements from well-known celebrities. Your placement at His table is radically different than the world's seating plan. He honours the humble. As we serve and share in quiet ways behind the scenes God is taking notice. Some of the greatest kingdom work is birthed in humble hearts in secret places. The Lord is watching. Eternity's seating plan might really surprise you. 

The Worry War

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?...These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs." Luke 12:25-26, 30

How often do you live like an unbeliever? What dominates your thoughts these days? In a conversation with friends, we were sharing together how our minds respond at that initial moment when we come face-to-face with the slightest hint of any concern. Morphing immediately into a Goliath, "it" is now directing every aspect of our lives. Even using all our effort, it's impossible to turn our attention to accomplish any needed task as we are living in a frantic state. I can't deny some real concerns were voiced, but often our responses aren't rational. We get caught up in emotions, and we spiral down paths that escalate, assume and speculate until we have convinced ourselves of every worst-case scenario possible. It's very rare we anticipate less. Our natural bent seems to be worry, fear and panic.

Jesus, teaching His disciples warns about worry. He identifies and associates those who get caught up with the affairs of life as unbelievers, who basically don't know better. Christ followers can become just like people all over the world who allow troubles to control thoughts and actions. Worry may be one of the most common experiences among those who call themselves Christians. It seems to be a regular part of all of our lives. It dictates behaviour and has greater influence than we desire.

Worry is not only wearisome, but physically we know that it is the root cause of many health issues. The enemy uses it as a weapon to unravel our belief and get us so focused on "what ifs" that we forget "Who is"! Fighting so hard to live in the safe zone, we step away from the faith zone. How we constantly need to remind ourselves that God is in control and that absolutely nothing that touches our lives goes unseen.

As I think of some recent prayer requests shared with me, it appears the devil is working overtime in the lives of believers. Marriages are struggling. Health concerns are many. Family relationships are severing. Employment is tentative. Biblical truth is being compromised. Exhausted, many are giving in to the climate of the culture just to avoid an explosion from another land mine. 

Day to day pressures constantly invite us to incessantly worry about tomorrow. We must refuse the invitation. Persistent worry is not a characteristic of a believer. Our hearts need to be effectually and functionally coming under the reign of God's sovereign rule. It is the only way we will experience His rest. Instead of worry distracting you, pray it will direct you to the Lord and His promises and then rest knowing your Father already knows your needs.

"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:32

The Blessedness of the Unoffended

"...God blesses those who do not fall away because of Me." Luke 7:23

If you grew up using the King James Version of the Bible you may recall the verse above as, "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." Let's face it. We can be pretty easily offended. It doesn't take much to upset some people. Feelings get hurt. Resentment surfaces. Relationships sever. 

What's intriguing to me, is that this scripture implies the possibility of "falling away" or being offended because of something Christ has done. He's the root cause of the offence. That concept sounds so strange. A follower of Christ leaving the faith because of Jesus? How could it happen? What could He do that would cause a believer to be so offended that one abandons the Lord? Isn't God all grace and love?

Sadly, I've heard many stories of those who once passionately walked with the Lord day by day, serving Him faithfully until the moment when prayers weren't answered as they had hoped. God didn't respond the way they prayed He would. The job was given to another. The healing didn't come. The bills couldn't be paid. The child hasn't been home in years. The marriage dissolved. Prolonged singleness. Early widowhood. Pain, loss, disillusionment and heartache grew into confusion, frustration and anger. Feeling like God had wronged them, unforgiveness towards Him begins to take hold of their heart. Participation in activities with other believers wanes. Church attendance becomes infrequent. Daily time with the Lord in His word disappears. A Bible sits untouched collecting dust on the shelf. It's agonizing to watch a soul drift away. They have been wounded by a conclusion they have made about God.

All our prayers will not be answered according to our plan. God's will and way can be vastly different from our longed-for direction and desires. The temptation to be offended may surely arise, but we need to guard our response. Sometimes it's God's rebuke and discipline that cause us to resist. It's a needed word that must be met with a receptive heart. As Jesus speaks these words in Luke to His disciples He is saying, you are blessed when you don't doubt, but accept what I'm doing, especially when My outcome doesn't meet your expectations. As you keep looking to God through painful trials, not taking offence at what He knows is best for you, you are blessed. 

Where is God apparently not answering in accordance with your hopes right now? Can you trust Him? Will you resolve to keep following regardless of the outcome? Will you have faith that He has a plan? Will you surrender yourself to what He is doing even though it seems so utterly hard to understand? When you do, you will be blessed.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 65, "...for You answer our prayers...You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our Saviour..." (vs 2a, 5a). Help me accept Your answers Lord. Oh the blessedness of the unoffended.

Fractured Foundations

"It is like a person building a home who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built." Luke 6:48

I am a huge fan of home renovation shows. Although we don't subscribe to any television providers (which in all honesty is probably a good thing), if I happen to be available to watch the "Property Brothers", I'm eager to see the transformation of the homes they redesign. One thing is certain. Without a doubt, at some point in the hour, unforeseen issues will arise hidden behind drywall or under flooring. Quite often the biggest concern is the foundation. The home has the appearance of being solid, but in truth it's on shaky ground. It's shocking to see the number of homes that have absolutely no solid support.

We can't see foundations. They are buried deep. We assume they are structurally sound. We can foolishly believe that absolutely nothing will cause a collapse, but foundations need to be maintained. Cracks can't be ignored. Leaks must be sealed. Without regular upkeep even cement can start to crumble. 

When my son and his wife moved into their first home everything looked perfect, until the first rainfall. An early morning phone call alerted us to flooding. It's impossible to think the previous homeowners didn't know about this issue. We're not talking a minor trickle. What was concealed was now revealed and what a mess! You just can't keep patching over a problem.

The thing is, repairs can be costly. We want to dismiss small evidences that work needs to be done. We know it's going to hit our pocketbooks hard. Yet, without the effort, it won't be long before a small concern becomes a major headache. It's going to take finances, time, sacrifices, energy and resolve.

We know this to be true for the homeowner, but what about our lives? What about our marriages and our families? What are we doing to ensure the winds of adversity won't demolish our footings with one, perfect storm? Don't think it couldn't happen. Too many are deceived by a false sense of security. I know many individuals and couples who never, not in their wildest dreams, envisioned walking away from one another or from the Lord, and yet devastatingly weaknesses weren't revealed until walls were already falling. Faith fractured from faulty foundations.

We must be continually investing in "home improvement". We can't overlook "fixer-uppers". It might take more than a DIY. We may need to reach out to those who can listen, pray, and give biblical counsel. It is unwise to pretend that a little paint will cover the problem without suffering lasting damage. It needs digging up, not covering over. Even for those currently sitting in the rubble, it doesn't have to be the end. God is the Master Builder. He holds the blueprints. Will you allow Him to do the foundational work needed to secure your future? In the hands of the Lord, your "house" still has many good years remaining. I can't wait to see what He does with the place!

"The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in Him. And those who do what is right will praise Him." Psalm 64:10

Cling-ons

"I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely." Psalm 63:8

Seeing her name appear I quickly grabbed my cell phone. It had been quite a while since I had spoken with this precious friend and I couldn't wait to hear her voice. With excitement and anticipation, I answered "Hello!" I instantly knew this wasn't just a casual call. Her voice betrayed her initial efforts to camouflage crisis. My inquiry of her well-being was met with tears. She proceeded to share news my mind couldn't begin to fathom. It seemed impossible. It couldn't be true.

What do we do when life suddenly changes, ushering in circumstances that turn our world upside down? We're in the middle of a mess beyond our comprehension, blindsided and confused. Winds of adversity are threatening to tear us away with hurricane force. In panic we reach out to grab hold of so many fruitless and futile things flying by us in our whirlwind. The Psalmist David knew there was one need. With everything in his being he would cling to the Lord. God is the only stable force in our storm.

What does it mean to cling to the Lord? The word "cling" speaks of adhering closely. It signifies holding tight by grasping or embracing. The idea of remaining attached as well as resisting any effort that comes against us is implied. This is a closeness that resolutely refuses to let go. 

Depending on your age, you may recall "Klingons" from the Star Trek series. They were a fictional species characterized by ruthlessness. We may be wise to take a lesson from these sci-fi guys. As "Cling-ons" we require the same relentless pursuit of God, recognizing that His grip of grace also holds us securely.

It makes me think of Jacob when he wrestled with the Lord in Genesis 32. Exhausted and weary he voiced, "I will not let You go unless You bless me." Our clinging is often directly proportional to our desperation. The greater the need the tighter the grasp. It is often pain that pushes us closer to the Lord, yet in reality we need to be holding just as tightly during seasons of ease. It shouldn't take a struggle to fix our focus back on our longing for the Lord's presence.

Do we wrap our arms around the Lord with such tenacity that absolutely nothing can create a wedge between us? I think the primary way we do this is through prayer. We pitch our tents in His throne room. We aren't leaving. Floors are worn by bended knee. Like the persistent widow we will not lose heart. Labouring fervently, we don't give up, we won't give up, we refuse to give up, we can't give up!

Like my sweet friend you may need to know God's divine touch and the awareness of His presence. Let's pray together.

Father, empty my hands of efforts to fix and my mind from formulas that fail. Tighten my grip. Weak and weary, lost and confused I need strength to cling. Let me feel Your fingers entwined with mine. Life has ushered in unexpected hurt that I don't understand and I definitely don't like. I feel afraid and alone. Powerless, I need Your help. May Your sovereignty in every situation bring comfort and Your authority fill me with peace. To You, and You alone, I will cling on.

Caretaker of the Heart

"Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught." Luke 1:3-4

Who cares for your heart? Who prays for you with passion and is deeply concerned that you know the truth and are walking in step with the Lord?

The opening verses of Luke move me to tears. The text of both Luke and Acts, under the inspiration of God and the moving of His Spirit, were penned by a physician who profoundly desires to attend to one man's understanding of the gospel. Just one. Whoever Theophilus is, and commentators only speculate, he obviously was someone Luke passionately longed to encourage and see stand strong in his faith. If I was honest, I'm kind of envious of one who has a friend who would care so deeply to devote two long letters for the care of his heart.

It wasn't that factual writings of the gospel did not already exist. Luke begins this letter by referencing many others who have shared accounts using eyewitness reports. So, along with the Spirit's urging, what compelled him to take pen in hand? It was the spiritual understanding and life of one man. A man of unknown identity whose name literally means "loved by God".

And loved he was. In sharing the message of the Gospel, Luke never once mentions his own name. Although he was a travel companion of Paul's, in humility he doesn't address associations or name drop. He doesn't speak of the professional sacrifices he must have made as a doctor. He doesn't draw attention to any personal accomplishments. Luke's one aim was for one man to understand with certainty salvation in Christ.

I ask again, who cares for your heart? Are there those in your circle of friends and influences who fervently share the Word of God with you? Is there someone who is so concerned about your walk with the Lord that they go out of their way and make personal sacrifices to make certain you know and understand scripture accurately? Do you have a "Luke" in your life? Who do you trust to speak truth to you?

It doesn't stop there. To whom do you speak truth? Are you intentionally involved with a "Theophilus"? Is there someone who needs encouragement to keep believing? To hold fast to God's word and be obedient to its teaching. To keep pressing on past discouragement and doubt. To be reminded of everything they know in their heads to be true, but feelings and circumstances have them experiencing momentary God-forgetfulness. It could even be someone who outwardly displays no visible sign of spiritual struggle, but I don't know one person who wouldn't appreciate a word of reassurance and inspiration. We all need the confidence of knowing that we are "loved by God".

I urge you to be the caretaker of someone's heart. I know letter writing is old-fashioned, but ask God to bring the name of someone to mind. Then, be a "Luke", encouraging a "Theophilus" to walk in faith.